Work was conducted via 6 work packages (WPs).
The project was managed under WP1.
WP2 focused on analysing the issue of social exclusion to define when and why an individual (or group) can be considered socially excluded. Under WP2, the Researcher conducted a literature review that informed his research on the wrongness of social exclusion (WP3). This research resulted in a paper titled "The Invisible Social Class: Relational Equality and Extreme Social Exclusion," which is subject to a "revise and resubmit" invitation by Political Studies.
WP3 aimed to develop a relational egalitarian theory of what is owed to socially excluded individuals, with a particular focus on persons whose agential capacities are impaired due to mental health issues, such as people with substance use disorder. This resulted in three papers: (i) “Egalitarian Relations, Unequal Distributions, and Functioning Self-Respect” published in Biblioteca della libertà; (ii) ‘What We Owe to Impaired Agents”, “conditionally accepted” for publication by the Journal of Social Philosophy; (iii) “Relational Equality and Vulnerability to Social Disrespect”, “accepted for publication” in an edited volume on Vulnerability and Relational Equality to be published by Cambridge University Press. Furthermore, part of this research was included in a monograph, entitled "Una società di eguali. Saggio sulle basi dell'eguaglianza morale e politica" [A Society of Equals. An Essay on the Basis of Moral and Political Equality.] published by Il Mulino.
WP4 focused on examining the public policies and strategies the state should adopt to improve the social conditions of marginalized individuals. This work resulted in a paper entitled “What Is the Point of Harm Reduction? A Relational Egalitarian Perspective,” which proposes a novel relational egalitarian theory of harm reduction. The paper first provides a conceptual analysis of harm reduction. It then argues that the provision of harm reduction services is not (only) a matter of reducing the harmful effects of high-risky and stigmatised behaviours. Rather, most fundamentally, it is (also) the appropriate response to persons’ status as equals. This paper will soon be submitted to the British Journal of Political Science.
In WP5, “Training and Teaching Activities”, the Researcher attended a workshop on job interviews and participated in a seminar on leadership skills. Moreover, he co-supervised two MA theses and a PhD thesis on topics related to the research project.
In WP6 “Communication & Dissemination”, the Researcher (co-)organised three research events and engaged in several communication activities, including nine academic conferences and two outreach activities.
Finally, the research conducted during this MSCA will inform and enhance several publications in the coming years, in addition to the ones produced and published during the fellowship itself.
